Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-03
THE GREAT CATTLE SCOURCE
Commissioner Oolman After the Illinois Live
Stock Board.
RULES FLAeRANTLY VIOLATED
Favoritism Shown in the Case of
Wealthy Distiiicry Company
Some Sensible Advice as
to Future Action.
Commissioner Co,m.p,s Letter.

Commissioner Colman's Letter.
AsniNaToN, Jan. 2.-Commissioncr
Colman has written q letter to Governor
OglesDy, of Illinois, sharply protesting
against what lie terms the violation by the
Illinois state live stock commission of rules
prepared by the commissioner of agriculture
TO regulate cooperation between the general
government and the states for the suppression
of pleuro-pneumonia. He cites rule 10, pro-
vding that "All animals affected with con-
tagtous pleuro-pneumona are to be saugh-
tered as soon after their discovery as arrange
ments can be made" and says: 1T is no
torious that such animals were not promptly
slaughtered either In the distillery sheds,
upon the Harvey farm, or in other affected
herds" lie declared that despite the
express stipulation that incubation
should not be practced in
Illinois inoculation has been permitted. He
calls attention to the provision that Quaran-
tines shall not be removed without due notice
to the department of agriculture and that all
necessary disintection shall be conducted by
the department, and declares that there has
been "Niolations of these rules are of so i'm
portant character that they threaten to inn
pair If not destroy the value of what has been
done in Chicago, and may lead to results SO
far-reaching and disastrous to the whole
without entering most emphatic protest"
lie continues: at requires no great
amount OF search to discover the reason
"na "nerans NECESSITY With for the these stas EHss nfo If
ties this department has expended
large sums of money, and 1t would be ridicu-
lous to do this without some means of as
suring itself that intelligent and thorough
measures would be adopted and enforced as
would secure with reasonable certainty the
object for which the appropriation was made"
The commissioner gives as an instance of the
non-co-operation o., Governor 0glesby the
circumstance of reiilling the Shufeldt distill-
lery stables with healthy cattle with
out allowing the department the
oe tnSy ner ams and ao Pas as the ness
sary precautions. The commissioner adds:
such course makes our efforts to cooperate
with your state a farce. Worse even than
there could be some substantial result for
the thousands Of dollars expended in Cook
county out OF the national appropriation for
the suppression OF pleuro-pneumona, and
for tidings that the contagion had been
thoroughly eradicatcd from at least
few of the infected places in Chicago,
the country. is amazed to learn that
OF the worst infected place now remaining in
the city to disintect their own premises with
out, satisfactory or competent supervision
and practically with no supervision at ALL
And not satisfied with this they have shown
the most extraordinary haste and most obsti-
nate determination to have this place filled
immediately with fresh cattle. They allowed
but a single day..to elapse between the slaugh-
ter of the. infected animals and the
issuance OF an order to refill
the. :, St stables 1t is a remarkable
for the suppression of the plague and the
protection of the people at large was attended
with the utmost conservatism and deli oera-
ton; There was no undue haste to slaugh-
ter diseased or exposed animals in these
same sheds. Ten long weeks. every day Of
which cost the citizens of this country
thousands of dollars, was allowed to drag
along before the courage of these gentlemen
the plain provisions of the law. But now
how different when the interests of "a wealthy
distillng company were TO be protected, the
company which had harb0red this plague and
premises and which had violated the law by
falling TO report it. To save this firm from
loss permit was granted with the most en-
traordinary prccipitancy tor the reilling Of
stricken cattle had been slaughtered 1t is
neXplicaDle that commission appointed to
serve the interests Of the country, of your
state should ndop! such rE an erratic and dan.
mission in "resoivina Itself ''i into o''l
scientific commission for the purpose of
ascertaning whether pleuro-pnennonia
can be spread by immediate contact in
pursuance of which object the obligations OF
the state are violated and the confidence of
the country destroyed, and says: 1T is gen
orally considered safest TO leave scientific
searches 10 be settled by scientific men, and
departures from this rule have nearly ALWAYS
been followed By confusion worse CON
founded"
The commissioner in pointing out the dan
ger of reiilling the infected stables, says:
with the floor underlaid by great mass of
organic filth, as is the case with these stables,
the filth which is possibly saturated with
cOntagion, the removal of few boards many
months hence might set up an old break
which would repeat all losses of restrictions
and burdens OF various kinds that have been
suffered from the present calamity"
In conclusion the commissioner says: st
appears now doubly important that YOU
ShOuld take such action as will leave no rea-
son for doubt in the mind of anyone as to
the future policy of your state live stock com
missOnerS. 70 this end ] would respect
fully suggest that you cause the order to the
board in regard to the Tetillng of the Shu-
feldt sheds to be revoked, that the cattle in
these sheds be immediately slaughtered, and
that this department be given an opportunity
TO practice such distinctions as is indescriba-
bic and mpOsS bic under the circumstances,
! make this suggestion on behalf OF the great
cattle industry for the protection of an i'm
pOrtant part Of the nations food supply, and
on behalf of an unrestricted commerce.
which are together threatened through this
lack of cooperation with the department of
agriculture on the part Of the board which
represents your state